If words like ‘photovoltaic’ don’t roll off your tongue, this section will help you “talk the talk” about sustainability.

Sustainability – The ability to provide for our present needs without damaging the ability of future generations to provide for themselves.

Sustainability means a balance between the economy, environment, and society.

Best Management Practice – Techniques used to manage systems (stormwater, pollution cleanup, construction) most effectively

Brownfield site – Property that actually has or potentially has a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant, which makes expanding, redeveloping, or reusing complicated.

Clean energy – Most of our energy comes from coal burning power plants that emit carbon and other pollutants into the air. Clean energy comes from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.

Energy Star – Household products (refrigerators, dishwashers, etc.), homes and business practices that meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and US Department of Energy.

Learn more at: www.energystar.gov

Green Building/LEED – The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. There are different types of LEED certification including:

• LEED-CI – Commercial Interiors
• LEED-CS – Core and Shell
• LEED-EB – Existing building
• LEED-NC – New Construction

Learn more at: www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19

 

ISO Certification – International Standards Organization sets worldwide standards for business practices. ISO 14000 certification means what the organization does to minimize harmful effects on the environment caused by its activities, and continually to improve its environmental performance.

Learn more at: http://www.iso.org/iso/en/aboutiso/introduction/index.html

 

Stormwater - When rain and snow fall to the earth, some of the water is used by plants and trees, some is absorbed into the ground, some flows naturally into creeks and rivers, and some evaporates. Water cannot be absorbed into impervious surfaces like roofs, roads, sidewalks and parking lots, so it flows over the ground and, in urban and suburban areas, then flows into storm drains that dump the water in a creek or river - this water is called stormwater runoff.

Learn more at www.pecpa.org